Chapter 57: The Revelation

In the days of the apostles the Christian believers were
filled with earnestness and enthusiasm. So untiringly did they labor for their
Master that in a comparatively short time, notwithstanding fierce opposition,
the gospel of the kingdom was sounded to all the inhabited parts of the earth.
The zeal manifested at this time by the followers of Jesus has been recorded by
the pen of inspiration for the encouragement of believers in every age. Of the
church at Ephesus, which the Lord Jesus used as a symbol of the entire
Christian church in the apostolic age, the faithful and true Witness declared: {AA 578.1}

"I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and
how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say
they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: and hast borne, and
hast patience, and for My name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted."
Revelation 2:2, 3. {AA
578.2}

At the first the experience of the church at Ephesus was
marked with childlike simplicity and fervor. The [579]
believers sought earnestly to obey every word of God, and their lives revealed
an earnest, sincere love for Christ. They rejoiced to do the will of God
because the Saviour was in their hearts as an abiding presence. Filled with
love for their Redeemer, their highest aim was to win souls to Him. They did
not think of hoarding the precious treasure of the grace of Christ. They felt
the importance of their calling; and, weighted with the message, "On earth
peace, good will toward men," they burned with desire to carry the glad
tidings of salvation to earth's remotest bounds. And the world took knowledge
of them that they had been with Jesus. Sinful men, repentant, pardoned,
cleansed, and sanctified, were brought into partnership with God through His
Son. {AA 578.3}

The members of the church were united in sentiment and
action. Love for Christ was the golden chain that bound them together. They
followed on to know the Lord more and still more perfectly, and in their lives
were revealed the joy and peace of Christ. They visited the fatherless and
widows in their affliction, and kept themselves unspotted from the world,
realizing that a failure to do this would be a contradiction of their
profession and a denial of their Redeemer. {AA 579.1}

In every city the work was carried forward. Souls were
converted, who in their turn felt that they must tell of the inestimable
treasure they had received. They could not rest till the light which had
illumined their minds was shining upon others. Multitudes of unbelievers were
made [580]
acquainted with the reasons of the Christian's hope. Warm, inspired personal
appeals were made to the erring, to the outcast, and to those who, while
professing to know the truth, were lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. {AA 579.2}

But after a time the zeal of the believers began to wane,
and their love for God and for one another grew less. Coldness crept into the
church. Some forgot the wonderful manner in which they had received the truth.
One by one the old standard-bearers fell at their post. Some of the younger
workers, who might have shared the burdens of these pioneers, and thus have
been prepared for wise leadership, had become weary of oft-repeated truths. In
their desire for something novel and startling they attempted to introduce new
phases of doctrine, more pleasing to many minds, but not in harmony with the
fundamental principles of the gospel. In their self-confidence and spiritual
blindness they failed to discern that these sophistries would cause many to question
the experiences of the past, and would thus lead to confusion and unbelief. {AA 580.1}

As these false doctrines were urged, differences sprang up,
and the eyes of many were turned from beholding Jesus as the Author and
Finisher of their faith. The discussion of unimportant points of doctrine, and
the contemplation of pleasing fables of man's invention, occupied time that
should have been spent in proclaiming the gospel. The masses that might have
been convicted and converted by a faithful presentation of the truth were left
unwarned. Piety was rapidly waning, and Satan seemed about to gain the [581]
ascendancy over those who claimed to be followers of Christ. {AA 580.2}

It was at this critical time in the history of the church
that John was sentenced to banishment. Never had his voice been needed by the
church as now. Nearly all his former associates in the ministry had suffered
martyrdom. The remnant of believers was facing fierce opposition. To all
outward appearance the day was not far distant when the enemies of the church
of Christ would triumph. {AA
581.1}

But the Lord's hand was moving unseen in the darkness. In
the providence of God, John was placed where Christ could give him a wonderful
revelation of Himself and of divine truth for the enlightenment of the
churches. {AA 581.2}

In exiling John, the enemies of truth had hoped to silence
forever the voice of God's faithful witness; but on Patmos the disciple
received a message, the influence of which was to continue to strengthen the
church till the end of time. Though not released from the responsibility of
their wrong act, those who banished John became instruments in the hands of God
to carry out Heaven's purpose; and the very effort to extinguish the light
placed the truth in bold relief. {AA 581.3}

It was on the Sabbath that the Lord of glory appeared to the
exiled apostle. The Sabbath was as sacredly observed by John on Patmos as when
he was preaching to the people in the towns and cities of Judea. He claimed as
his own the precious promises that had been given regarding that day. "I
was in the Spirit on the Lord's day," John writes, "and heard behind
me a great voice, as of a trumpet, saying, [582] I am
Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. . . . And I turned to see
the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden
candlesticks; and in the midst of the seven candlesticks One like unto the Son
of man." Revelation 1:10-13. {AA 581.4}

Richly favored was this beloved disciple. He had seen his
Master in Gethsemane, His face marked with the blood drops of agony, His
"visage . . . marred more than any man, and His form more than
the sons of men." Isaiah 52:14. He had seen Him in the hands of the Roman
soldiers, clothed with an old purple robe and crowned with thorns. He had seen
Him hanging on the cross of Calvary, the object of cruel mockery and abuse. Now
John is once more permitted to behold his Lord. But how changed is His
appearance! He is no longer a Man of Sorrows, despised and humiliated by men.
He is clothed in a garment of heavenly brightness. "His head and His
hairs" are "white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes
. . . as a flame of fire; and His feet like unto fine brass, as if
they burned in a furnace." Revelation 1:14, 15. His voice is like the
music of many waters. His countenance shines as the sun. In His hand are seven
stars, and out of His mouth issues a sharp two-edged sword, an emblem of the
power of His word. Patmos is made resplendent with the glory of the risen Lord.
{AA 582.1}

"And when I saw Him," John writes, "I fell at
His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear
not." Verse 17. {AA
582.2}

John was strengthened to live in the presence of his
glorified Lord. Then before his wondering vision were [583] opened
the glories of heaven. He was permitted to see the throne of God and, looking
beyond the conflicts of earth, to behold the white-robed throng of the
redeemed. He heard the music of the heavenly angels and the triumphant songs of
those who had overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their
testimony. In the revelation given to him there was unfolded scene after scene
of thrilling interest in the experience of the people of God, and the history
of the church foretold to the very close of time. In figures and symbols, subjects
of vast importance were presented to John, which he was to record, that the
people of God living in his age and in future ages might have an intelligent
understanding of the perils and conflicts before them. {AA 582.3}

This revelation was given for the guidance and comfort of
the church throughout the Christian dispensation. Yet religious teachers have
declared that it is a sealed book and its secrets cannot be explained.
Therefore many have turned from the prophetic record, refusing to devote time and
study to its mysteries. But God does not wish His people to regard the book
thus. It is "the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to
show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass."
"Blessed is he that readeth," the Lord declares, "and they that
hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written
therein: for the time is at hand." Verses 1, 3. "I testify unto every
man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add
unto these [584] things, God shall add unto him
the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from
the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the
book of life, and out of the Holy City, and from the things which are written
in this book. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come
quickly." Revelation 22:18-20. {AA 583.1}

In the Revelation are portrayed the deep things of God. The
very name given to its inspired pages, "the Revelation," contradicts
the statement that this is a sealed book. A revelation is something revealed.
The Lord Himself revealed to His servant the mysteries contained in this book,
and He designs that they shall be open to the study of all. Its truths are
addressed to those living in the last days of this earth's history, as well as
to those living in the days of John. Some of the scenes depicted in this
prophecy are in the past, some are now taking place; some bring to view the
close of the great conflict between the powers of darkness and the Prince of
heaven, and some reveal the triumphs and joys of the redeemed in the earth made
new. {AA 584.1}

Let none think, because they cannot explain the meaning of
every symbol in the Revelation, that it is useless for them to search this book
in an effort to know the meaning of the truth it contains. The One who revealed
these mysteries to John will give to the diligent searcher for truth a
foretaste of heavenly things. Those whose hearts are open to the reception of
truth will be enabled to understand its teachings, and will be granted the
blessing promised to those [585] who "hear the words of this
prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein." {AA 584.2}

In the Revelation all the books of the Bible meet and end.
Here is the complement of the book of Daniel. One is a prophecy; the other a
revelation. The book that was sealed is not the Revelation, but that portion of
the prophecy of Daniel relating to the last days. The angel commanded,
"But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the
time of the end." Daniel 12:4. {AA 585.1}

It was Christ who bade the apostle record that which was to
be opened before him. "What thou seest, write in a book," He
commanded, "and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto
Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto
Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea." "I am He that
liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore. . . .
Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things
which shall be hereafter; the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in
My right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the
angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are
the seven churches." Revelation 1:11, 18-20. {AA 585.2}

The names of the seven churches are symbolic of the church
in different periods of the Christian Era. The number 7 indicates completeness,
and is symbolic of the fact that the messages extend to the end of time, while
the symbols used reveal the condition of the church at different periods in the
history of the world. [586]{AA 585.3}

Christ is spoken of as walking in the midst of the golden
candlesticks. Thus is symbolized His relation to the churches. He is in
constant communication with His people. He knows their true state. He observes
their order, their piety, their devotion. Although He is high priest and
mediator in the sanctuary above, yet He is represented as walking up and down in
the midst of His churches on the earth. With untiring wakefulness and
unremitting vigilance, He watches to see whether the light of any of His
sentinels is burning dim or going out. If the candlesticks were left to mere
human care, the flickering flame would languish and die; but He is the true
watchman in the Lord's house, the true warden of the temple courts. His
continued care and sustaining grace are the source of life and light. {AA 586.1}

Christ is represented as holding the seven stars in His
right hand. This assures us that no church faithful to its trust need fear
coming to nought, for not a star that has the protection of Omnipotence can be
plucked out of the hand of Christ. {AA 586.2}

"These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars in
His right hand." Revelation 2:1. These words are spoken to the teachers in
the church—those entrusted by God with weighty responsibilities. The
sweet influences that are to be abundant in the church are bound up with God's
ministers, who are to reveal the love of Christ. The stars of heaven are under
His control. He fills them with light. He guides and directs their movements.
If He did not do this, they would become fallen stars. So with His ministers.
They are but instruments in His hands, and all the good they accomplish is done
through His power. Through them [587] His light is to shine forth. The
Saviour is to be their efficiency. If they will look to Him as He looked to the
Father they will be enabled to do His work. As they make God their dependence, He
will give them His brightness to reflect to the world. {AA 586.3}

Early in the history of the church the mystery of iniquity
foretold by the apostle Paul began its baleful work; and as the false teachers
concerning whom Peter had warned the believers, urged their heresies, many were
ensnared by false doctrines. Some faltered under trial and were tempted to give
up the faith. At the time when John was given this revelation, many had lost
their first love of gospel truth. But in His mercy God did not leave the church
to continue in a backslidden state. In a message of infinite tenderness He
revealed His love for them and His desire that they should make sure work for
eternity. "Remember," He pleaded, "from whence thou art fallen,
and repent, and do the first works." Verse 5. {AA 587.1}

The church was defective and in need of stern reproof and
chastisement, and John was inspired to record messages of warning and reproof
and entreaty to those who, losing sight of the fundamental principles of the
gospel, should imperil their hope of salvation. But always the words of rebuke
that God finds it necessary to send are spoken in tender love and with the
promise of peace to every penitent believer. "Behold, I stand at the door,
and knock," the Lord declares; "if any man hear My voice, and open
the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me."
Revelation 3:20. {AA
587.2}

And for those who in the midst of conflict should [588]
maintain their faith in God, the prophet was given the words of commendation
and promise: "I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open
door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My
word, and hast not denied My name." "Because thou hast kept the word
of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall
come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." The
believers were admonished: "Be watchful, and strengthen the things which
remain, that are ready to die." "Behold, I come quickly: hold that
fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." Verses 8, 10, 2, 11. {AA 587.3}

It was through one who declared himself to be a
"brother, and companion in tribulation" (Revelation 1:9), that Christ
revealed to His church the things that they must suffer for His sake. Looking
down through long centuries of darkness and superstition, the aged exile saw
multitudes suffering martyrdom because of their love for the truth. But he saw
also that He who sustained His early witnesses would not forsake His faithful
followers during the centuries of persecution that they must pass through
before the close of time. "Fear none of those things which thou shalt
suffer," the Lord declared; "behold, the devil shall cast some of you
into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation:
. . . be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of
life." Revelation 2:10. {AA
588.1}

And to all the faithful ones who were striving against evil,
John heard the promises made: "To him that [589]
overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the
Paradise of God." "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in
white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I
will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels." "To
him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also
overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne." Verse 7; 3:5, 21.
{AA 588.2}

John saw the mercy, the tenderness, and the love of God
blending with His holiness, justice, and power. He saw sinners finding a Father
in Him of whom their sins had made them afraid. And looking beyond the
culmination of the great conflict, he beheld upon Zion "them that had
gotten the victory . . . stand on the sea of glass, having the harps
of God," and singing "the song of Moses" and the Lamb.
Revelation 15:2, 3. {AA
589.1}

The Saviour is presented before John under the symbols of
"the Lion of the tribe of Judah" and of "a Lamb as it had been
slain." Revelation 5:5, 6. These symbols represent the union of omnipotent
power and self-sacrificing love. The Lion of Judah, so terrible to the
rejectors of His grace, will be the Lamb of God to the obedient and faithful.
The pillar of fire that speaks terror and wrath to the transgressor of God's
law is a token of light and mercy and deliverance to those who have kept His
commandments. The arm strong to smite the rebellious will be strong to deliver
the loyal. Everyone who is faithful will be saved. "He shall send His
angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they [590] shall
gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the
other." Matthew 24:31. {AA
589.2}

In comparison with the millions of the world, God's people
will be, as they have ever been, a little flock; but if they stand for the
truth as revealed in His word, God will be their refuge. They stand under the
broad shield of Omnipotence. God is always a majority. When the sound of the
last trump shall penetrate the prison house of the dead, and the righteous
shall come forth with triumph, exclaiming, "O death, where is thy sting? O
grave, where is thy victory?" (1 Corinthians 15:55)—standing
then with God, with Christ, with the angels, and with the loyal and true of all
ages, the children of God will be far in the majority. {AA 590.1}

Christ's true disciples follow Him through sore conflicts,
enduring self-denial and experiencing bitter disappointment; but this teaches
them the guilt and woe of sin, and they are led to look upon it with abhorrence.
Partakers of Christ's sufferings, they are destined to be partakers of His
glory. In holy vision the prophet saw the ultimate triumph of God's remnant
church. He writes: {AA
590.2}

"I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and
them that had gotten the victory . . . stand on the sea of glass,
having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God,
and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God
Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints." Revelation
15:2, 3. {AA 590.3}

"And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the Mount Sion,
and with Him a hundred forty and four thousand, having [591] His
Father's name written in their foreheads." Revelation 14:1. In this world
their minds were consecrated to God; they served Him with the intellect and
with the heart; and now He can place His name "in their foreheads."
"And they shall reign for ever and ever." Revelation 22:5. They do
not go in and out as those who beg a place. They are of that number to whom
Christ says, "Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared
for you from the foundation of the world." He welcomes them as His
children, saying, "Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." Matthew
25:34, 21. {AA 590.4}

"These are they which follow the Lamb withersoever He
goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and
to the Lamb." Revelation 14:4. The vision of the prophet pictures them as
standing on Mount Zion, girt for holy service, clothed in white linen, which is
the righteousness of the saints. But all who follow the Lamb in heaven must
first have followed Him on earth, not fretfully or capriciously, but in
trustful, loving, willing obedience, as the flock follows the shepherd. {AA 591.1}

"I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
and they sung as it were a new song before the throne: . . . and no
man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which
were redeemed from the earth. . . . In their mouth was found no guile:
for they are without fault before the throne of God." Verses 2-5. {AA 591.2}

"And I John saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming
down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."
"Her light was like unto a stone most [592] precious,
even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; and had a wall great and high, and
had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon,
which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel."
"The twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl:
and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. And I
saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of
it." Revelation 21:2, 11, 12, 21, 22. {AA 591.3}

Find out more today how to purchase a
hardcover or
paperback
copy of The Acts of the Apostles.

"And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of
God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him: and they
shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall
be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the
Lord God giveth them light." Revelation 22:3-5. {AA 592.1}

"He showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as
crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of
the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life,
which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the
leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." "Blessed are
they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life,
and may enter in through the gates into the city." Verses 1, 2, 14. {AA 592.2}

"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying,

"Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men,
And He will dwell with them,
And they shall be His people,
And God Himself shall be with them,
And be their God." Revelation 21:3. {AA 592.3}